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DR. MYGIND AND THE BLOOD-CLOT DRESSING.
A NATURAL CORRECTION OF MYOPIA.
969
bound together because they were of the same size, quite regardless of their subject-matter. At present all one can It may be of interest to school boards and local education do is to catalogue reprints in separate drawers, but this is authorities to know that there exists in London a training very inconvenient if one wishes to remove them for study. It would be quite simple to make universal an international college at which special teachers of deaf children are equipped for such work as the Glasgow school board is now size such as that adopted by the Royal Society and by theinitiating. The college is recognised by the Board of Royal Society of Medicine-namely, 10 x 7 inches. PersonEducation, though it has to depend for support and main- ally, I think 10 X 7¼ inches is a better size. The extra’ tenance on the benevolence of the general public. quarter of an inch allows for trimming during the binding. A movement is on foot to enlarge the scope of training To make such a system as I have described a success it would. afforded by the college and to provide new buildings, without of course, have to be universal, and a start must be given by which the development of the work of the college will be the leading journals, both special and general. I a.m. Sir. yours faithfnllvseriously impeded. Unfortunately funds are low and subW. BLAIR BELL. scriptions are coming in very slowly. Any help which your Sept. 30th, 1912. readers may be able to render the college would directly benefit the deaf children of the country and be a national DR. MYGIND AND THE BLOOD-CLOT service.-I am, Sir, yours faithfully, G. SIBLEY HAYCOCK, DRESSING.
especially if these children are to take full advantage, they enter school, of the lip-reading method.
when
Liverpool,
Director of the Training
11, Fitzroy-square, London,
College for Teachers of the System.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.
the Pure Oral W., Sept. 30th, 1912.
Deaf
on
A NATURAL CORRECTION OF MYOPIA. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—The theory of Dr. 1. B. Muirhead in relation to the natural correction of myopiais interesting. A small particle of ingenuity, however, seems to be surrounded by a good deal of mystery, in which what he refers to as the His discovery, suspensory ligament plays no little part. that a myope of 2’5 to 5 dioptres cannot use his glasses for near work, is an everyday occurrence in the practice of ophthalmic surgeons. The difficulty is forestalled by advising the patient to hold his work as far from him as possible at first. In the course of a month or two he is able to wear his correction for all purposes. The suggestion that contraction of the recti will shorten the antero-posterior measurement of the globe, and neutralise the myopia to the extent of 1 D., is in favour of the myope wearing his correction for close work, and is certainly not the explanation of the temporary difficulty. On the other hand, the theory that Dr. Muirhead brings forward may be used as further evidence against the views that the pressure of the extrinsic muscles is a factor in the production of myopia. For example : 1. Pressure effect of the superior oblique (Stilling). 2. Compression of the posterior ciliary arteries by the external rectus and inferior oblique (Arlt). 3. Traction on the posterior polar region of the sclera by the oblique muscles (Suter). 4. Compression of one of the venæ vorticosæ by the inferior obliques in convergence
I
(Fuchs.) The most
likely causes of both simple and severe myopia heredity and scleral ectasia. An investigation into the family histories of nearly 500 myopes points to heredity as the important factor in more than 80 per cent. Ectasia of the sclerotic is not uncommon in other parts of the globe, e.g., the equatorial ciliary and intercalary regions, and more often than not, is the direct cause of the secondary choroidal disease. T Sir, faithfully are
am
yours
PHILIP A. HARRY, M.D., D.P.H., Honorary Ophthalmic Surgeon, Rochdale Infirmary.
Sept. 25th, 1912.
UNIFORMITY IN MEDICAL REPRINTS. To the Editor of THE LANCET. has often struck me as peculiar that in these days SIR,-It when the output of medical literature is so enormous, and when every man interested in his special branch of work accumulates innumerable reprints, not only of his own papers but also of the literary contributions his scientific friends are kind enough to send him-it has, I say, often struck me as out of keeping with that orderly system which should characterise our work that we make no effort to have a common international standard of size for all journals. I need hardly point out how useful such an arrangement would be. One would be able to bind together in convenient volumes papers on the same subjects. Not only would private individuals be greatly convenienced by such a system, but libraries also would have much cause to be grateful. I have known cases where reprints have been 1 THE LANCET,
Sept. 14th, 1912.
SIR,-In THE LANCET of Sept. 21st Dr. Mygind, of Copenhagen, writes that I have misunderstood his method of hastening the healing after the complete mastoid operation, I am sorry that this is so, and I accept fully Dr. Mygind’s correction, but I was under the impression that I had seen’, what I described.-I am. Sir. yours faithfullv. CHARLES A. BALLANCE. Harley-street, W., Sept. 26th,
1912.
THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC BILL. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-The suppression of the subsection on solicitation of the above Bill, which is at present before Parliament, raises an issue concerning which medical teaching has always been vague and legislation consequently unsatisfactory-namely, the definition of an age-limit below which sex-relationships are injurious : of the age at which a girl becomes a "woman." The various organs arrive at functional activity at different ages : the epiphyses join at 24 and so finish anabolic growth. The cases of neuralgias, &c., which one frequently meets in younger " encientes"that can only be relieved by large doses of calcium hypophosphite continued to the end of lactation indicate a revolt of Nature against any young thing attempting to reproduce before its own growth is completed. The disastrous effects of regarding the functioning of the organs themselves as a sign of general maturity is seen in India, where the victims of child marriage are generally internal cripples before they have done growing, and are prone to such diseases as osteomalacia later on. That instinct cannot be taken as a guide in theser matters is brought home to one in board schools. I have had to exclude several children (of both sexes) from theinfant schools, where they ought to remain mixed until 7 years of age, because they were dangerous to otherchildren. From a eugenic point of view Sir Frane-is Galton, Lombroso, and others established the age of the mother likely to produce the greatest intellectual ability as 33, and the best physique as 24. From a psychological point of view, the normal relationship is not a merely physical one, but a psycho-physical one, in which it is of the utmost importance for each individual to maintain the psychophysical unity. In love, which is vital, this unity is maintained. In prostitution, which connotes suppression (of the psychical) and automatonism, this unity is dissociated. Hence prostitutes are notoriously neuropathic and given to’ dissociative conditions, as hysteria, whilst the men who frequent them are liable to weakening and to premature failure of memory, which is also a dissociation between the psychical and physical elements of personality. A chief characteristic of dissociation is increased suggestibility;. hence the power (practically hypnotic) which souteneurs (who are now said to number 25,000 in London) exert over young girls, and the explanation of the ease with which they secure victims for the traffic. Psychical development is, later than physical, so from a psycho-physical point of view "responsibility"cannot be said to be obtained before: physical growth is complete. This is recognised for boys, who are not allowed to dispose of their property before 2L Should not a similar law exist for girls who (especially) before they are 21 should be prevented from bartering theirsouls and half-made bodies on the public streets ?
unborn
969
bound together because they were of the same size, quite regardless of their subject-matter. At present all one can It may be of interest to school boards and local education do is to catalogue reprints in separate drawers, but this is authorities to know that there exists in London a training very inconvenient if one wishes to remove them for study. It would be quite simple to make universal an international college at which special teachers of deaf children are equipped for such work as the Glasgow school board is now size such as that adopted by the Royal Society and by theinitiating. The college is recognised by the Board of Royal Society of Medicine-namely, 10 x 7 inches. PersonEducation, though it has to depend for support and main- ally, I think 10 X 7¼ inches is a better size. The extra’ tenance on the benevolence of the general public. quarter of an inch allows for trimming during the binding. A movement is on foot to enlarge the scope of training To make such a system as I have described a success it would. afforded by the college and to provide new buildings, without of course, have to be universal, and a start must be given by which the development of the work of the college will be the leading journals, both special and general. I a.m. Sir. yours faithfnllvseriously impeded. Unfortunately funds are low and subW. BLAIR BELL. scriptions are coming in very slowly. Any help which your Sept. 30th, 1912. readers may be able to render the college would directly benefit the deaf children of the country and be a national DR. MYGIND AND THE BLOOD-CLOT service.-I am, Sir, yours faithfully, G. SIBLEY HAYCOCK, DRESSING.
especially if these children are to take full advantage, they enter school, of the lip-reading method.
when
Liverpool,
Director of the Training
11, Fitzroy-square, London,
College for Teachers of the System.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.
the Pure Oral W., Sept. 30th, 1912.
Deaf
on
A NATURAL CORRECTION OF MYOPIA. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—The theory of Dr. 1. B. Muirhead in relation to the natural correction of myopiais interesting. A small particle of ingenuity, however, seems to be surrounded by a good deal of mystery, in which what he refers to as the His discovery, suspensory ligament plays no little part. that a myope of 2’5 to 5 dioptres cannot use his glasses for near work, is an everyday occurrence in the practice of ophthalmic surgeons. The difficulty is forestalled by advising the patient to hold his work as far from him as possible at first. In the course of a month or two he is able to wear his correction for all purposes. The suggestion that contraction of the recti will shorten the antero-posterior measurement of the globe, and neutralise the myopia to the extent of 1 D., is in favour of the myope wearing his correction for close work, and is certainly not the explanation of the temporary difficulty. On the other hand, the theory that Dr. Muirhead brings forward may be used as further evidence against the views that the pressure of the extrinsic muscles is a factor in the production of myopia. For example : 1. Pressure effect of the superior oblique (Stilling). 2. Compression of the posterior ciliary arteries by the external rectus and inferior oblique (Arlt). 3. Traction on the posterior polar region of the sclera by the oblique muscles (Suter). 4. Compression of one of the venæ vorticosæ by the inferior obliques in convergence
I
(Fuchs.) The most
likely causes of both simple and severe myopia heredity and scleral ectasia. An investigation into the family histories of nearly 500 myopes points to heredity as the important factor in more than 80 per cent. Ectasia of the sclerotic is not uncommon in other parts of the globe, e.g., the equatorial ciliary and intercalary regions, and more often than not, is the direct cause of the secondary choroidal disease. T Sir, faithfully are
am
yours
PHILIP A. HARRY, M.D., D.P.H., Honorary Ophthalmic Surgeon, Rochdale Infirmary.
Sept. 25th, 1912.
UNIFORMITY IN MEDICAL REPRINTS. To the Editor of THE LANCET. has often struck me as peculiar that in these days SIR,-It when the output of medical literature is so enormous, and when every man interested in his special branch of work accumulates innumerable reprints, not only of his own papers but also of the literary contributions his scientific friends are kind enough to send him-it has, I say, often struck me as out of keeping with that orderly system which should characterise our work that we make no effort to have a common international standard of size for all journals. I need hardly point out how useful such an arrangement would be. One would be able to bind together in convenient volumes papers on the same subjects. Not only would private individuals be greatly convenienced by such a system, but libraries also would have much cause to be grateful. I have known cases where reprints have been 1 THE LANCET,
Sept. 14th, 1912.
SIR,-In THE LANCET of Sept. 21st Dr. Mygind, of Copenhagen, writes that I have misunderstood his method of hastening the healing after the complete mastoid operation, I am sorry that this is so, and I accept fully Dr. Mygind’s correction, but I was under the impression that I had seen’, what I described.-I am. Sir. yours faithfullv. CHARLES A. BALLANCE. Harley-street, W., Sept. 26th,
1912.
THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC BILL. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-The suppression of the subsection on solicitation of the above Bill, which is at present before Parliament, raises an issue concerning which medical teaching has always been vague and legislation consequently unsatisfactory-namely, the definition of an age-limit below which sex-relationships are injurious : of the age at which a girl becomes a "woman." The various organs arrive at functional activity at different ages : the epiphyses join at 24 and so finish anabolic growth. The cases of neuralgias, &c., which one frequently meets in younger " encientes"that can only be relieved by large doses of calcium hypophosphite continued to the end of lactation indicate a revolt of Nature against any young thing attempting to reproduce before its own growth is completed. The disastrous effects of regarding the functioning of the organs themselves as a sign of general maturity is seen in India, where the victims of child marriage are generally internal cripples before they have done growing, and are prone to such diseases as osteomalacia later on. That instinct cannot be taken as a guide in theser matters is brought home to one in board schools. I have had to exclude several children (of both sexes) from theinfant schools, where they ought to remain mixed until 7 years of age, because they were dangerous to otherchildren. From a eugenic point of view Sir Frane-is Galton, Lombroso, and others established the age of the mother likely to produce the greatest intellectual ability as 33, and the best physique as 24. From a psychological point of view, the normal relationship is not a merely physical one, but a psycho-physical one, in which it is of the utmost importance for each individual to maintain the psychophysical unity. In love, which is vital, this unity is maintained. In prostitution, which connotes suppression (of the psychical) and automatonism, this unity is dissociated. Hence prostitutes are notoriously neuropathic and given to’ dissociative conditions, as hysteria, whilst the men who frequent them are liable to weakening and to premature failure of memory, which is also a dissociation between the psychical and physical elements of personality. A chief characteristic of dissociation is increased suggestibility;. hence the power (practically hypnotic) which souteneurs (who are now said to number 25,000 in London) exert over young girls, and the explanation of the ease with which they secure victims for the traffic. Psychical development is, later than physical, so from a psycho-physical point of view "responsibility"cannot be said to be obtained before: physical growth is complete. This is recognised for boys, who are not allowed to dispose of their property before 2L Should not a similar law exist for girls who (especially) before they are 21 should be prevented from bartering theirsouls and half-made bodies on the public streets ?
unborn